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Cabinet Communique |
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| (02/06/2002) |
At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 2.6.2002:
1. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and the Director of the Defense
Ministry Satellite Authority briefed ministers on last Tuesday's
successful launch of the Ofek-5. The Defense Minister noted that the
satellite is among the most advanced in the world, the fruit of an
extraordinary technological effort by the IAI and other security
industries, and is designed to carry out important national missions and
contribute to the strengthening of Israel's deterrent ability.
The Director of the Defense Ministry Satellite Authority briefed
ministers on details of the Ofek-5 and its capabilities and showed a
film of the satellite's launch.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon thanked the Director of the Defense Ministry
Satellite Authority and all those who were involved in, and contributed
to, the construction of the Ofek-5 and its launch, and remarked on the
importance of the Ofek-5.
2. ISA Director Avi Dichter presented ministers with an assessment of
the security situation since Operation "Defensive Shield", and related
to the scope of the attacks which have occurred and the casualties they
produced, and the scope of the attacks which have been prevented by the
security forces. The ISA Director commented on current warnings of
attacks by all of the Palestinian organizations, with Fatah at their
lead.
ISA Director Dichter remarked on the issues related to the projected
reforms in the Palestinian Authority, briefed ministers on the Jewish
cell which attempted to perpetrate a serious attack near an Arab school,
and commented on the detention of a woman who pretended to be Marina
Pinski. The ISA Director regretted the publication of Ms. Pinski's
name, she not being connected to the attack in Rishon Lezion, and said
that the ISA is investigating the incident.
Prime Minister Sharon, in commenting on ISA Director Dichter's review,
referred to the absence of Palestinian counter-terrorist efforts and
added that responsibility for Israel's security is on Israel alone.
3. The Cabinet approved Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer's
recommendation that a Nahal outpost be established in the Iron area and
authorized the Defense Minister to implement his recommendation. The
Cabinet charged the World Zionist Organization Settlement Division with
responsibility for planning and establishing the outpost.
The establishment of the outpost answers the settlement needs of the
Iron area and Samaria and strengthens the communities in the seam zone.
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